Missing Clarissa
by Ripley Jones
Mystery
Suspense
Thriller
* * * * Stars (Great!)
20 years ago a popular girl disappeared from a party in the woods after a fight with her boyfriend. She was never found. Now, Cameron and Blair are reviving the case for their journalism class and plan to do their own investigation and interviews into Clarissa’s disappearance. They publish their findings in a podcast that starts attracting a lot of attention (because everyone loves a dead white girl story), and they are shocked to discover that people are still interested in Clarissa AND that a lot of folks think their podcast is pretty good. Their research, however, uncovers some information that certain people would prefer remained secret, and Cam’s reckless and confrontational strategies to out the truth endanger the lives and livelihoods of the girls and their families. Once the investigation takes off, you’ll be ensnared and invested in the outcome. Cam can be infuriating, but the friendship between her and best friend Blair (and their entertaining banter) is a highlight. Reminiscent of “A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder,” by Holly Jackson (which also features a school project that becomes dangerous) and “Sadie,” by Courtney Summers (which features a popular, suspenseful podcast about a dead girl and her sister who mysteriously disappeared). For high school teens.
Reviewed by YA Librarian
